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Space Debris Office

From the start of the space age until 2012, some 4900 launches have caused all space debris. Most catalogued objects stem from orbital break-ups – more than 240 explosions in all

The Space Debris Office coordinates ESA's research activities related to space debris, coordinates such activities with national research efforts and provides operational services.

Since the mid-1980s, ESA has been active in all relevant research, technology and operational aspects related to space debris. Agency expertise is mainly concentrated at the European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany, and the European Space Research & Technology Centre (ESA/ESTEC), Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

About us & FAQ

ESA/ESOC: Home to the Space Debris Office

ESA Space Debris Office

ESA Space Debris Office Since the mid-1980s, ESA has been active in all relevant research, technology and operational aspects related to space debris. Agency expertise is mainly concentrated at the European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany, and the Euro...

ESA's Space Debris Office coordinates debris research activities

Space debris - Frequently asked questions

Space debris - Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions on space debris prepared by the ESA Space Debris Office team.

Our activities

Space debris environment

Space debris environment Satellites in orbit around the Earth are used in many areas and disciplines, including space science, Earth observation, meteorology, climate research, telecommunication, navigation, and human space exploration. They offer a unique resource for collec...

Space debris modelling

Space debris modelling The consolidation of knowledge on all known objects in space is a fundamental condition for the operational support activities of ESA's Space Debris Office. This knowledge is maintained and kept up-to-date through the DISCOS database (Database and Inf...

Space debris measurements

Space debris measurements Space object catalogues, as generated and maintained by space surveillance networks, are limited to larger objects, typically greater than 10cm in low Earth orbits and greater than 1m at geostationary altitudes. These sensitivity thresholds are a comp...

ESA space debris studies: hypervelocity impact sample

Collision & re-entry risk control

Collision & re-entry risk control The consequences of meteoroid and debris impacts on spacecraft can range from small surface pits due to micrometre-size impactors, via clear hole penetrations for millimetre-size objects, to mission-critical damage for projectiles larger than one cent...

Regulations & treaties

Regulations & treaties Space debris are a problem to which all space faring nations have contributed. Likewise, space debris pose a risk to missions of all space faring nations. Analysts first became aware of an emerging space debris problem in the early 1960s. Since then,...

Last update: 10 December 2012

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